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| Women's Day Celebration In
Sawa |
Women's Day marks the role of women in both the past and the present.
It was started to highlight the importance of working women and bring to
light their problems. However, the day is not a one-day agenda. The real
challenge lies in the spontaneous flow of feelings -- honoring and
celebrating womanhood on a particular March 8 only to forget its
importance the next day is sacrilegious.
In this article, we'd like to introduce to you the way to
celebrate International Women's Day in other countries, including the
countries in South Africa, U.S. and Russia.
 Women's day in South
Africa
 In countries like South Africa, the people celebrate the national
Women's day on 9 August every year with a variety of events.
Women's Day on 9 August marks
the day, in 1956, when 20000 women marched on the Union
Buildings in Pretoria to protest against one of the cornerstones of
apartheid - the pass laws.
The countries will nowadays celebrate the month of August, by a
ceremony promoting women in politics and decision-making positions,
awarding them certificates of honour.
Women's day in U.S .
 IWD was commemorated
in the United States during the 1910s and 1920s, but then dwindled. It was
revived during the women's movement in the 1960s, but without its
socialist associations.
In 1981, the U.S. Congress passed a
resolution establishing
National Women's History Week. The week was chosen to coincide with
International Women's Day, March 8. In 1987, Congress expanded the week to
a month. Every year since, Congress has passed a resolution for Women's
History Month, and the U.S. president has issued a proclamation. Since its
founding, the National Women's History Project has recognized and
celebrated the rich and varied contributions of women to the history and
culture of the United States.
The 2005 Women's History Month theme, "Women Change America," honors
and recognizes the role of American women in transforming culture, history
and politics as leaders, writers, scientists, educators, politicians,
artists, historians, and informed citizens. "Women Change America" also
celebrates the myriad ways in which the spirit, courage, and contributions
of American women have added to the vitality, richness, and diversity of
American life.
Women's day in
Russia
 Kollontai, a minister in the first Soviet government, persuaded
Lenin to make March 8 an official communist holiday in 1909. During the
Soviet period, the holiday celebrated "the heroic woman worker."
Today the Russians are still the
premier celebrators of the March 8 holiday. Around the
world, the event is a way to honor women's contributions to history. But
in Russia, the festivities go a step further - celebrated in the fashion
of Mother's Day with flowers or breakfast in bed-in which men boys are
expected to bestow presents and show appreciation for the women in their
lives.
Tips on Women's
Day
This day is a great way to honor the women in our lives- mothers,
sisters, wives, daughters - everyone should be made to feel special. Here
are a few ways by which you can mark the day:
1. Think about all those women who have helped in their own way to
shape your life. Do something they would have liked.
2. Consider cooking their favorite food, planting their favorite
flowers in your garden or sending a check to their favorite charity. The
idea is to make them feel special.
3. Host an all women's party and have a ball of a time.
4. Shower the women in your life with wonderful gifts (if you're a man)
expressing your love and respect towards their individuality.
5. Accept graciously when the men in your life shower you with gifts
(if you're a woman).
Background
南非婦女節時間有別于國際婦女節。
1956年8月9日，數百名黑人婦女在比勒陀利亞舉行示威游行，抗議當局推行種族隔離的"通行證法"。新南非政府將這一天定為婦女節，以紀念南非婦女在爭取平等斗爭中所作的貢獻，并將這一天定為全國公假日。
從此，每年的 8 月 9
日，南非各地的婦女紛紛舉行各種形式的慶祝活動，要求實現男女平等、結束黨派沖突與暴力，保證婦女生存權益和反對性騷擾與性犯罪，以消除舊南非種族隔離制度造成的根深蒂固的歧視婦女的影響。
三·八婦女節是俄羅斯人相為重視的節日之一。這一天的鮮花價格，甚至能超過情人節的價格。每個男人都會為自己心愛的人送上一束鮮花。學生也會為自己的女老師送上鮮花表達謝意。附帶著鮮花的暢銷貨則是香檳酒了。除了送禮物外，俄羅斯人總會與親朋好友聚在一起，慶賀一番。平時很少從事家務活的俄羅斯男人這天也會親自下廚房，為全家人準備一頓美餐。而女士們則不必動手，坐享其成。
(英語點津陳蓓編輯） | 
